Automatic bottle washing and brushing machine



Sept. 13, 1932. R. E, MlLLER 1,877,682

AUTOMATIC BOTTLE WASHING AND BRUSHING MACHINE Filed April 1s, 1929 9 sheets-sheet 1 h' IMM ulll--lflllynml f@ UH Nl Sept. 13, 1932. R. E. MILLER AUTOMATIC BOTTLE WASHING AND BRUSHING MACHINE Filed April 1.8. 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 alito-@naw Sept. 13, 1932. R. E. MILLER 1,877,682

AUTOMATIC BOTTLE WASHING AND BRUSHINCT MACHINE Filed April 1s, 1929 9 sheets-sheet 5 ..J= l w .T 155 @mi 'LEI-1w Raber E.MZ'ZZEI1 ethyl/M94- Sept. 13, 1932. R'. E. MILLER 1,877,682

AUTOMTIQ BOTTLE WASHING AND BRUSHING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 13, 1932. R. E, MILLER AUTOMATIC BOTTLE WASHING AND BRUSHING MACHNE Filed April 3.8, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 ETT' un o @juve ufo@ 14217275221. MZ; Zier attm muri.,

Sept. 13, 1932. R E M|| V| ER :I 1,877,682

f AUTOMATIC BOTTLE WASRHING AND BRUSHING MACHINE Filed April 19, 1929 9 Smets-snee;

Tmawfmf/LMWWQMW Sept. 13, 1932. R. E. MILLER AUTOMATIC BOTTLE WASHING AND BRUSHING MACHI:-:E

Filed April 18, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet .7

xii-. Wil- 6 147 Snom/Hoz Robar? E. Mz' ZZaz Sept. 13, 1932. R. E. MILLER AUTOMATIC BOTTLE WASHING AND BRUSHING MACHINE Filed April 18. 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 1101752# E. Mz? 22er Sept. 13, 1932. R. E. MILLER AUTOMATIC-BOTTLE WASHING AND BRUSHING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1929 '9 Sheets-Sheet 9 SWW/|4101, Haber? E. Mz' ZZEr uvm GMM/uuid MV/fv nu f Ivid'e a machine ofthe endless bottle-carrier type .with mechanism for brushing'th-ebottles Patented Sept. 13, 1932 f UNITED srv-Aras Aran-'r ortica Vj ROBERT EUGENE MILLER, or. BAINBRIDGE; GEORGIA AUTOMATIC BOTTLE wAsiIING rANI) BRUsIIINe MACHINE 1 Application filed AprilrlS, 1929. Serial No. 356,119.

`embodying a numberof safety devices adapted to prevent damage to .the,mach1ne, or

stoppage thereof, when subjected to conditions which formerly necessitated stopping the machine for repair, or removal of obstructions. Y

.The main object ofthe invention is toproin addition to the mechanism heretofore employed for washing them.

in this horizontal type of machine, the

bottles are inserted in cups connected to links vided with fountain wheels Vwhich spray the ,inside of the bottles with a caustic solution. It frequentlyhappens that the washing openv ation will fnot remove all the dirt or other obstructions .Which Vmaycling to the inside wallsof the bottles, and it thereforebecomes necessary to brush or scrape these .inside 'in exact position to accommodate the brushes positionedto be inserted into thebottle and rotate therein.

Another object ofthe invention, therefore,

mechanism to stop the endless bottle-carrier at predetermined "intervals, during eachof which the brushes Vmust be inserted into and removed from the bottles.

4Aifurther object of the invention is to provide each of the brushes with a protecting i ferrule to cover it while out of brushing -contact with a bottle, and which is so shaped and locatedas fto contact with the top of the bottle neck and tov guide the brush into the interior of a bottle'without coming in contact withthe said top. ,.'Ihisfeature of having the ferrule contact. with the top of the bottle neck to guide the brush from the ferrule into the bottle without touching the said top is of great importance, because in systems in whichthe Vhotties are vh eld'nec'k downj inthe endless carrier, the whole top of the bottle neck is exposed and is frequentlychipped; and these chipped topsfcoming in contact with the rapidly rotating brushesl out and destroy the brushes. It Ais to avoid "this rapid destruction of brushes byy chipped bottle necksthat the present guiding ferrule construction is particularly provided.

'A further object of the invention is tozpro vide the brushing mechanism of this machine, and machines of a similar type, with means toV permit abrush carrying spindle to yield axially whenever the brush contacts in the neck thereof, and to return into proper position for brushing another bottle at the,

tle carrier. y

Another object of the invention'is to provide a novel mount for driving motors adapted to rotate the operating mechanism of the brushes used in machines of this character, wherebythe weight .of the motor `itself 'op` erates as an automatic belt tightener to yper.- mit the train of; mechanism to be raised and t lowered during vthe operation thereof.:

nent succeeding intermittent step of the botl Other objects ofthe invention will appear In the drawings: I

Figure l is a top `-plan view of the complete bottle washing and brushing machine, with parts broken away and omitted to disclose as the detailed descriptiontheref proceeds.

the arrangement ofthe endless conveyer -in is to provide afmachine of this type-with the machine f lFigure2 is a side elevation-ofthe machine ing mechanism 'for imparting intermittent` movement to the endless bottle-carrier;

Figure .4 is a perspective view'of vthe bottle brushing mechanism of this apparatus;

.Figure 5 Vis anend elevation ofthe bottle brushing mechanism, with the parts thereof shownfinV relative positionl occupied during the movement of ythe'e'ndless bottle carrier and while the brushes are in inoperative position;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the mechanism with the parts in the same position as shown in Figure Figure 7 is an end elevation of the brushing mechanism showing the endless bottlecarrier in position of rest, and with the brush enclosing ferrules inserted into the bottle carrying cups; c

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of cam mechanism lfor controlling the operation of the brushes;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the cam mechanism shown in Figure 8; f n

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevation showing the said cam mechanism in a different position from that shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism in the position shown in Figure 10 Y Figure 12 is a top plan view of the bottle ybrushing assembly with a part of the casing thereof broken away to illustrate the driving means therefor; c

Figure 13 is a fragmentaryv side elevation of part of the mechanism shown in Figure 12 Figure 14 is a fragmentaryv side elevation of adjusting mechanism;

Figure 15 is a horizontal section taken on the line 15-15 of Figure 14;l

Figure 16 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 164-16 of Figure 14;

Figure 17 is a top plan view lof a plate adapted to'be adjusted toward and from the bottom of bottles in order to lock theV latter yieldingly in position Lin the bottle-carrier during the brushing thereof;

Figure 18 is a side elevation of the plate Y' shown in F igure 17;

Figure 19 is a fragmentary sectional Velevationof the drive shafting for the bottle brushl ing parts of this apparatus;

FigureV 20 is a top plan view of a drive wheel for moving the endless bottle-carrier;

vFigure 21 is an elevation of parts of a bottle brushing element shown in the position which these parts occupy immediately before or after a brushing operation; Y

' Figure 22 is a sectional elevation of the same parts shown with a brush'in operation inside a bottle; i

r Figure 23 is a sectional elevation similar to Figure 22 but illustrating the Ybrush spindle moved out of operative position by contact ofthe brush itself with a cap or other obstruction'which prevents vthe brush from entering the bottle; y

Figure 24 isa vertical section of one of the brushing elments shown in position immediately prior to the entrance of-a brush into a bottle neck; Y

Figure 25 is a horizontal section takenon the fline 25-25 of Figuren24; i

Figure 26 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 26-26 of Figure 6;

Figure 27 is a horizontal section taken on the line 27--27 of Figure 6;

Figure 28 is a fragmentary elevati-on of the drive mechanism which imparts intermitv tent krotation to the endless bottle-carrier driving mechanism;

Figure 29 isa side elevation of the mechbrush operating mechanism; and

' Figure 32 is a broken side elevation of the lower part'of the mechanism shown in Fig- Vure 31.

Referring to the drawings :"The entire assembly-is shown in Figures 1 and 2, and comprises a washing tank 1 supported by standards 2 and 3 on the base or floor 4. At a suitable height above the floor a bottle carrier. 5

of the endless sprocket chain type is mounted to move horizontally into and out of the washing tank 1. The carrierV has a part thereof movable, in the direction indicated by the arrow A, horizontally outside of and lengthwise of the tank 1; and extending around a sprocket wheel 6 at one end of the tank to move around said wheel 6 into a conduit7 leading into thev washing tank v1.

In the tank 1 the sprocket chain carrier 5 extends around the sprocket spray wheels 8, 9, 10 and 11; and passes out from the wheel 11 through a conduit 12 into mesh with Va sprocket drivewheel 13 which forms part of the'bottle brushing mechanism hereinafter described.

From the sprocket wheel 13the bottle carrier chain 5 enters the `conduit 14-and eX- tends into the tank 1 tomesh with a fountain spray wheel 15, whence it is led out through a conduit 16 to a final-rinse spray wheel 17, around which it extends and is led out of the rinsing tank 18 through an outside shower 19 to the outside of thevtank, where the cleansed bottles may be removed or automatically fed as desired to bottling machines.

The endless chain conveyer is drivenby a motor 20 through suitable reducing gearing and ratchet mechanism` for causing the endless conveyer tostop at predetermined intervals. The rotor 21 of the motor 20 is provided wit-h a pulley 22; and a belt 23 connects this pulley 22 to a large pulley 24 suitably secured on a shaft 25 which extends from a boX 26 containing suitable reducing gearing. The pulley'24 is made a great deal applied-to the elements for moving the conr4veyer chain 51.* At right angles to the shaft a drive shaft 27 extends toward fand through the tank 1 with the outer end thereof provided with mechanism, `described 'hereafter, for raising the brushes of the machine into brushing vcontact with theinside Aof bottles when the latter are properly positioned and at rest after thepreliminary kwashing thereof. l v

The bottle carrier 5 is intermittently moved by means of a ratchet linkage mounted at the end of the tank 1 adjacent the reducing gear box. This linkage is clearly *shown in Figures 28 `and 29 and comprises `a lever 28 pivotally mounted lto rotate on tank 1 about a pivot 29. One end of the lever v28'ha's an anti-friction roller 30 mounted thereon and adapted to ride over the periphery of a cam 31 fixedlysecured by key 32 'tof theshaft 27. The lever-28 has oneof its ends with a pawl 38 adapted to ride overthe teeth 39'on the ratchet wheel 37 whenever the cuter end of the link 36 is raised by means of the rod 35, and adapted to contact with one of said teeth in order to impart rotation to the ratchet wheel 37 whenever the rod` is lowered tothe position shown by dotted lines in Figure 28.

The ratchet wheel 37 is suitably keyed on, or otherwise-fixed, to a shaft 40, (see Figures 3 and 29) one end ofwhich is journaled in thebearing 41 fixed on one end of the tank 11. j The shaft40 extends lengthwise over the top of tank 1 and projects beyond the end of tank 1 opposite the bearing 41 into a journal box 42 enclosing gearing for driving the end of the carrier chain 5 at a vpoint vimmediately over the brush operating mechanism. 1 l Intermediate the bearing 41 and the bearing 42 there is mounted on top ofthe tank 1 ,a gear box 43 which not only forms an .in-

termediate journal bearing `for vthe shaft 40, but also serves to enclose gearing for driving one of the sprocket fountain rspray. wheels. VAs shown in Figures 2'and 3` the shaft 40 is provided with a bevel gear 44 in mesh with a second bevel gear 45 fixed'to the end of a shaft 46 journaled in 'a bearing 47 within the gear box 43. d 'i The shaft 46 extends throughl the topi of the tank 1 perpendicularly theretopand hasV lfxedly secured thereto the fountain spray ,wheel `'tvvhich not only. serves for spraying the inside of the bottles positioned on the conveyor carrier chain 5, but 'also serves to Vdrive the chain.

The gear box 42 encloses the journal bearing 48 in which is journaled the verticalshaft 49 having a bevel gear 50 fixed to the upper end thereof and in mesh withV a vbevel gear 51 secured to the shaft 40. rEhe-'vertical shaft 49 extends downwardly and has fixed to the end thereof the sprocket wheel 13 for driving the sprocket chain bottle carrier 5. f

As, just described, it willbe evident that the shaft 40 imparts its rotation through the vertical shafts 46 and` 49. to the sprocket wheels 9 and 13. The sprocket Wheel. 10 is rotatably mounted between the ends of carrier plate 52 having one end thereof con- `v nected to a pivot 53 mounted on the bottom of the tank 1. A spring 54 has one of itsends fixed to the bottom of the tank 1 and has its other endvfixed to the plate 52 intermediate the ends thereof and serves to swing the plate .52 in such manner as to maintain the carrier 5 under tension between thedriving'sprockets i 9 and 13, and to hold it properly positioned over the bushes rotatably mounted below the wheel 13-when the chain is at rest. y

The specific details vof thebottle carrier'V troduction ofthe brushed bottle into the tank 1 again for a final cleansing and sterilizing operation is considered a veryV important partof the present invention, since thefbottles cannot be considered as properly "cleanedafter brushing thereof, 'unless the vdirt and other matter loosenedby the brush andpde'posite'd by the brush is removed. v

'It is obvious vthat the brushes vmust :be

rotated and moved upwardly and downwardly into and out of the bottles, onlyv kwhen the latterare at rest. It is, therefore, necessary tofdrive the shaft 40 intermittently and Vin los timed relation with the rotation .ofy theshaft 27 in order that the brushes may be moved upwardly and downwardly only when :the

shaft 40 is at rest. To e'ect the' intermit- -tent 'rotation ofthe shaft' 40, thef'shaft, 27 has keyed thereon the cam-31 on the end ofV the -tanknear the driving motor 20,- which 'cam 31 isfshaped so as to 'give a rest period of Y fa littlemore than to the rotationf'of the shaft40 through the linkage and pawl Yand ratchet mechanism previouslyl described. At the other 'end of shaft 27, a camf31 is kfixed in order `to controlthe raising and lowering of the brushes during the periodof r'est ofthe shaft40. C Y l VThe carn 31 is located at the bottle v/brushing end'ofthe tank 1, and hasits periphery incon-tact withthe small roller 55. mountedl Y".

fintermediate the ends of a lever 56 which has one of said ends connected by a pivot 57 to the end wall 58 of the tank 1 (see .Figure ll), a bracket 59 being secured on said end wall to form'additional support for the pivot 57.

A link 60 has'its lower endpivotallycon- `nected to the free end ofthe lever 56 and the nut into any `desired-position .with respect to the slot 62.V

., vA lever 66 is fixed between its ends to a lshaft 67 which is journaled in bearings V68 and 69 mounted on the top of `the casing 70 in which the-conduits 12 and 14: are formed. The lever 66 has one of its ends pivoted to the nut 63, and has its other end pivote'd to .a second link 71,.which, at its lower end is pivotallyV connected to a pivot pin 72 secured on the gear supporting 'plate 73.

A link'74 identical in length with the link 71 and arranged on .the opposite side of the plate 73, has its lower end pivotallyI connected to a pivot pin 75., which is also pivotally lsecured to the gear-supporting plate 73.

The upper end of the link 74 is' pivotall-y connected to a lever arm 7 6 which has its Y' other .end xedly secured to thev endf of the shaft 67, remote from .the lever 66. VThe arm .76 terminates at the shaft'67 and fis moved simultaneously by shaft 67,' with the movements of the armY of lever 66 which is `connected to the link 71. ,Y

YGear-supporting plate 7 3 has secured thereto a plurality of casings 77, in each of which is slidably mounted a spindle 78 carrying a brush 79 at the upper end thereof. VEach of these'casings 77 includes a cylindrical member 80 provided with a counter-bore 81 see Figure 24) adapted to receive a ball-bearing 82, The member-80 is turned down tov form a reduced extension 83, adapted to lit snugly in an aperture 84, formed' in the plate 73. The lower end of theextension 83 is threaded to receive the internal screw threads 85 of -a second cylindrical member 86 which is also counter-bored toreceive a ball-bearing 87. A

A` sleeve`88-is mountedto rotate in the members 80 and 86 by means of the ballbearings 82 and 87; and this lsleeve 88 is prevented from longitudinal movements lin :theJ members-80 and 86 v.by a pair of locking Vsleeves 89 and 90. The sleeve-89 is'provided with an vinternallythreaded radial bore 91 in which is mountedaset screw-92, adapted to be screwed into contact with the sleeve 88 to prevent downward movement ofthe sleeve 88 in the members 80 and i86. 4The sleeve 90 is' alsoprovided with a radial bore v93 screw threaded to receive the .Set screw 94f'adapted to be screwed into contactwith the lower 95 is keyed onto the sleeve 88 and is held against the shoulder 96 formed on-the sleeve 88,bymeans of the locking sleeve 90. f .v

vThe sleeves 89 and 90, therefore, preven axial movement of the sleeve 88 in the lmembers 80 `and 86,. but permit the lfree rotation of said sleeve 88 iny thev saidmembers. The upper sleeve- 89 is provided with a radial counter-bore 97 which is adapted to register with4 an ,aperture 98.formed near the upper end Vof the sleeve 88.*Y Thel aperture 98 has a ball 99 mounted therein, and this ball is held by aA spring 100 :in contact` with the spindle 78 by means of a set-screw-101.which screws into the outerend ofthe counter-bore 97 and forms an abutment for the outer. end of ,thespring 100.` f .sa f. i lThefbrush spindle 78`isslidable lengthwisein the sleeve88 and is provided at .its upper end with a screw'threaded .portion 102, adaptedto be screwed into the endof a shank 103 in which the bristlesv of ythe-brush 7 9 lare secured. kThe lower end of the spindle 7 8i is a radial lbore therein adapted toreceive a vset screw 105 Aforlocking thesleeve 104Cy in any desired position of adjustment on .the spindle 78. f

Normally, the spindle 78 is positioned in .the'sleeve 88 with .its locking lsleeve 10e substantially in contact with the lower 'end of sleeve 88;'andto keep thespindle in this vnormal position, it is provided with-a .recess 106 adapted to form a seatfor the ball 99. This constructionis provided sothat iffthe brush 79 should come in contact with a cap or other 'obstructions in the neck'of a bottle the ball 99 willyield suiiiciently to permit .the spindle to slide downwardly inthe sleeve 88, and thereby avoid breaking ofthe spindle or'some other part of the apparatus.

l As all the spindle supporting casingsr, are ldentical in construction, the description lof the one shown in Figures 24 and 25 applies to dall of them. As shown particularly in Figures 26 and 27, the gears 95 of all'the spindles are connected for rotation by a'gear 107 which is mounted o na stub'sha'ft 108 `on the supporting plate 73. 'The gear' 107 is rotated by means of a bevel 'gear1109 mounted on said stub shaft, and 'in' mesh with VVthe .bevel gear '110'iXed on the end of a shaft llllvwhich is journaled in' abearing 112wl'1ic`h extends-through a 113 on the *backA of -fplate73. y Y The shaft 111 has a pulley 114'fiX`ed thereto, i

and this pulley is driven by means of *a ,belt v115 (see Figure 5) extending around the pulley' 114:V and a pulley 116 secured to the yrotor 117 of a motor `118, which is mounted .on an angular bracket 119, hingedlyl con- La7-'Lesa nected to a iixedpart 120; As will be shown later on, the brush spindles and the plate 73, which carries the gearing for rotating them, are mounted for upward and downf ward movement in the machine, and the hinged support for the motor 118 is essential to provide for this movement of the gearing and its support. This hinged support for the motor also performs another it; very important function, as it provides a gravity operated automatic means for maintaining the belt 115 at substantially a constant tension throughout all movement of the brushes and the gearing which rotates [53 them. l The wall 113 which is carried by the gearsupporting plate 73 has the back thereof provided with a plurality of anti-friction rollers 121 arranged in pairs to embraceand dcontact with supporting standards 122 and 123,y the lower ends of which are seated in sockets 124 and 125 formed in a base plate 126. Theupper ends of the standards 122 M and 123 are secured in sockets 127 and 128 a formed on the ends of a plate 129 iiXed to Y the bottom of the casing by a bracket 130 (see Figure 6).

Each of the brushes 79 is normally enclosed in a ferrule 131; and these ferrules, corre- 'i sponding in number to the number of brushes employed, are formed integral with, or otherwise mounted on a ferrule supporting plate- 132. The plate 132 is provided at its opposite ends with apertures 133 and 134 adapted "35 to receive slidably rods 135 and 136, respec-v tively, which are provided at their lower ends with nuts 137 andV 138 toform abutments fork compression coil springs 139 and 140. The

upper ends of the springs 139 and `140 abut "59 lock nuts 146 and 147 to secure a plate 148 in adjusted position on the rods 142 and 143.

The plate 148 is adjusted in such position, on the rods 142 and 143 that it forms a sup-` port on which the locking sleeves 104 of the spindles 78 rest when the brushes are inL their lowest and inoperative position. The rods 135 and 136 and their springs 139 and 140 vare enclosed in protecting casings 149 and 150, res ectivel The springs 139 andl40 are compression springs which normally tend to force the ferrule supporting plate 132 upwardly toward the carrier chain 5 to move the ferrules 13-1 into the cups 151 carried by the chain 5` '5f and in position corresponding tothe positionsof the ferrulesbeing raise-d by said spring. Normally, the ferrule plate 132 is held. downwardly in inoperative position, as shown in vFigures 5 and 6, by the weight ofv the gearing for operating the brush spindles resting'upon the bottom or stop plate 148. As soonl as theI gear supporting plate 73 is moved upwardly by the links 71 and 74 the platey 148 is relieved from the weight of the gearing and brush spindles, and is thereby permitted to move upwardly with the ferrule plate 132 under pressure of the springs 139 and 140, until the tops of the ferrules contact with the necks of bottles carried by the cups 151. Y

A In order to prevent the bottle from being wardly toward the bottles immediately belowV sai-d plate.y Y Y i The plate 152 has an upturned bracket 156 lsuitablyvsecured thereto or formed integral therewith; and this bracket is mounted to slide vertically in a slot 157 formed near the end of lever 153, a set screw 158 being provided to secure the bracket tion on said lever. Y

A'A plurality of coil springs 159 depend from and are suitably secured to the plate 152; and these springs are arranged on said plate so as to contact with the upturned bottoms of bottles presented'immediately under the springs when the bottle carrier 5 is at rest.

As previously described herein, the brush ferrule plate 132 is supported by the springs 139 and 140, which, when released from the weight ofthe brush spindle gearing, -force the ferrule plate upwardlyto cause the topf ofthe ferrules 131 to Contact with the downto effect this timed movement vof the plates,

132 and'152.

A spring 160 has one of its ends secured to the lever 153fnear the bracket 156, and has its other v`end secured to a headed k*stud 161 projecting laterally from the upper part lof journal `box 42 in order to hold the lever in adj usted posi@ Thus, the bottles, when 153 lin constant Contact 'with the cam 155 fixed to shaft 67.

The bracket 156 is madeadjustable in the' rslot 157 in order to adapt the apparatus for cleansing bottles of different sizes, and toregulate the pressure of the springs 159 on metal links and cups.

* therefore, that the aXes of these cups are not` the bottoms of the bott-les. y

`As shown inthe drawings the apparatus .is designed to brush the insides of siXv botties during each period of rest of the conveyor, and the cam 31 is designed to cause the bottle conveyor to come to rest immediately after the conveyor shall have moved .through a distance corresponding to the length thereof occupiedv by siX bottles.V The cam 511 is shaped so that, as soonv asfthe conveyor comes to rest, the brushes are raised from their lowest position into the bottles at rest above them and then return tot-heir lowest position just before the conveyor starts moving again.

The carrier chain conveyors of this type of apparatus are usually built up of cast It is quite likely,

always identical in shape or exactly spaced apart. Where this condition exists the ferrules 131, rigidly fixed to the ferrule plate 132, are apt to have their axes not properly centered with the axes of the cups` 151 and the bottles; and, may even be so far dis-V placed as to causebreakage of the ferrules or the cups. l

In order to eliminate all chance ofy breaking the cups or ferrules from thiscause, theV the boss 162, and is tapered toward its upper end to adapt it for easy entrance into a cup` 151 of the carrier 5. The upper end of each ferrule passes loosely through an aperture 166in the upper end of a cylindrical cap 167, which has its lowerfend secured tothe boss 162 by set screws 168.

A coil spring 169 of'inverted frusto-conrow end 170 against the flange 166, and with its wider upper endV 171 abutting against flange 172 which defines the boundary of the aperture 166.

The lower end of this spring fits snugly around the lower end of ferrule 165 in the 4 corner between the body of the ferrule and its flange 166. The upper end of the springV fits snugly in the'corner formed by the body of the vcap 167 and its flange 172. This con-- struction enables the ferrule to rook slightly on its boss 162 and to move laterally on said A boss whenever the ferrule encounters a'rbottle supporting cupV 'somewhatrrrirregularly shaped or located on the carrier 5. At kthe same time the spring is strong enough to hold the ferrule against rotation by the brush when the latter is seated in vits .ferrule A- slightly modified form of: the brush shown in Figure 24.

with the spindle 78, even :when'the latter `is moved, by an obstruction on a bottle, so as to move its recessv 106 away from the ball 99.

This constant contact causes the brush spin-` dle to rotate always against the obstruction. rFhe modification shown in Figs. 31 and 32 is designed to overcome this obyection.

'In' Figs. 31 and 32 they brush spindle sup? pforting and operating structure is substantially the same as that shown'in Figure 24, and the elements lwhich are identical in the two structures areV identified by the same referencenuinerals. In the form shown in Figure 31 the sleeve 172 is the vsame as sleeve 890i Figure 241, eXcept thatthe ball and spring mechanism of Figure 211 have been omitted and the spindle is formed withou the ball receiving recess 106. 1 The sleeve which holds the gear .95 positioned on the sleeve 88 of Figure 21'isrreplaced in Figs. 31 and 32 by a cap 174 secured on the sleeve 88 by a set screw 175. This cap 1711 is provided withra recess 176 in which isV seated a leaf s rin'g'177 providediwith a'V turned out end 17 8 adapted to contact with the inclined face 17 9 of a small ball sleeve 180 which is secured to the end of spindle'l'?) by a vpin 181. Theset screwu 175 vhas a nut 182 threaded thereonto contact with'the spring 17 7 andclamp the latter rigidly inl its recess 176.` y i If the brush encounters a cap or otherv ob'- stacle in the bottle neck, spindle 173 will slide downwardly through sleeve 88', spring 177 sliding over ball sleeve 180.- In normal elevated position spring 177 will seat in a verticalv slot 183 cutin vball sleeve l180 and thus transmit rotary motion to spindle 173.

`What I claim is: l n 1. In a brushing machine, the combination with. a frame, of an endless bottle car- 'l rvinoconvei or movable intermittenti on ical shape is seated 1n cap 167 with its nar J b j y said frame, means for intermittently movingl said conveyor, a plate below vsaid conveyor reciprocable on said frame vertically toward' and from said conveyor, a plurality of brush termined positionrelative to said plateyal second plate supported yieldingly on said,

frame and adapted to contact with the ends of said spindles'to move each of them into said predetermined position in theeventthat any of them have been moved out of said position, and means for reciprocating the rst named plate toward and from said conveyor.

2. In a bottle brushing machine, the combination with a frame and an endless bottle carrier movable therethrough, of a plate reciprocable toward and from said carrier, a casing perpendicular to said plate, a sleeve rotatable in saidL casing, a spindle slidably mounted in said sleeve, yielding` means for frictionally holding said spindle against rotary or axial movement in said sleeve, and means below said plate to move said spindle axially in said casing into holding contact therewith after the spindle has been moved from said frictionally held position.

3. In a bottle brushing machine, a plate, a brush spindle slidably and rotatably mounted on said plate, yielding means for rotating said spindle and holding said spindle against axial movement through said plate, means for rotating said yielding means, and means for moving said spindle into holding position with said holding means after displacement from such position by axial movement.

4. In a bottle brushing machine, the combination with a frame, of an endless bottle carrying conveyor movable through said frame, a plate reciprocable on saidframe to- Ward and from said carrier, a plurality of brush spindles rotatably and mounted on said plate, means holding the brush spindles yieldingly in normal operative position to permit the brush spindles to slide axially out of normal position When the brush encounters a cap or other obstacle, a second plate yieldingly mounted on said frame and located between the first named plate and said conveyor, a plurality of ferrules movably mounted on the second plate, brushes on the end of each spindle projecting into and normally enclosed by said fer-y rules, means for moving the first named plate toward and from said conveyor, yielding means for moving said ferrule supporting plate toward said conveyor in advance of the first named plate, and means carried by the ferrule carrying plate in the path of movement of the ends of said spindles for moving the second plate With the ferrules thereon away from said conveyor on the return movement of the first named plate therefrom and simultaneously returning to normal position such spindles as may have been moved out of normal position.

5. In a bottle Washing machine a Washing tank, a drive shaft extending lengthwise of the tank, a second drive shaft parallel with and above the first, means at one end of the tank associating said shafts to convert the continuous rotation of the first shaft into intermittent rotation of thesecond, brushing mechanism at the opposite end of the tank, means carried by the first shaft to periodislidablyV cally raiseY and lower the brushing mechanism, vertically mounted shafts in the .tank

and'above the brushing mechanism, drive gears on said` vertical shafts, an endlessconveyor disposed in one horizontal plane and extending around said drive gearsand driving connections between the second shaft mentioned 6. In a bottle Washing machinev having a horizontally moving bottleconveyor, a frame, a brushing device comprising va vvertically reciprocable brush carrier reciprocable vertically on said frame, a. brush rotatable and on one end, a brush support havinga through hole, a journal member having a reduced and said vertically mounted shafts;

part passing through the hol-e in the brushzw support and' having a bearing, a second journal part in alignment With said journal member and engaging the reduced part thereof and having a second bearing, a sleeve r0- tatably mounted in the bearings of said journal members, a driving gear secured to said sleeve, the brush spindle being axially slidable and rotatable in said sleeve, and yielding means coacting With said sleeve and brush spindle adapted to rotate the brush spindle only in one axial Vposition With respect to the sleeve. Y

Y 8. In a bottle Washing machine, a brushing device comprising a spindle having a brush on one end and a detent on one side, a brush support having a through hole, a journal member having a reduced part passing through the hole in the brush support and having ai bearing, a second journal-part in alignment With said journal member and engaging the reduced part thereof and having a second bearing, a sleeve having a radial bore Y and rotatably mounted in the bearings of said journal members, a drive gear secured to said sleeve, the brush spindle being axially slidable and rotatable in said sleeve, and

lyielding means comprising a ball slidable inv the radial bore of the sleeve and coaoting With said sleeve and brush spindle detent, l and spring means tending to force said ball against the brush spindle.

9. In a bottle Washing machine a brush device comprising a spindle having a brush on one end, a ball secured to the brush spindle having a detent on one side, a brush support having a through hole, a journal member having a reduced part passing throughthe y hole in the brush'support and having a bearing, a second journal part in alignment with said journal member and engaging the reduced part thereof and having a second bearing,- a sleeve rotatably enclosed in the bearings of said journal members, a driving gear secured to said sleeve, the brush spindle being axially slida'bly andl rotatably mounted in said sleeve, and a spring mounted on the sleeve adapted to Coact with the ball and the detent for said ball on thebrush spindle.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

ROBERT EUGENE MILLER.

no l 

